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The Vermont Attorney General's Office would get authority to monitor gasoline prices under tri-partisan legislation introduced under consideration at the Statehouse.

Wholesalers would be required to report each year the number of gallons sold to each dealer and the gallons provided to dealers controlled by the wholesalers. The wholesalers also would have to reveal the gallons sold from a bulk storage facility or depot directly to an end user.

The bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Chris Pearson, P-Burlington, said he introduced the measure Tuesday because he is concerned the top three gasoline distributors also own a majority of the filling stations selling their products. That could contribute to uneven pricing for Vermonters.

"That may be part of the issue," said Pearson, a four-term- legislator.

The legislation comes on the same day a new report shows Vermont continues to post some of the highest gasoline prices in the United States.

Vermont is the only state in the Lower 48 that does not have a single station reporting gas at under $2 a gallon. Vermont's lowest station was $2.09 a gallon, according to price-tracking service GasBuddy.Com.

Missouri has the lowest average at $1.75 a gallon among the 50 states and the District of Columbia. There were 26 states averaging less than $2 a gallon. Vermont averages $2.41 a gallon to rank No. 46 among the 51 locales.

The national average per gallon was $2.05.

Pearson said the need for the bill continues and was further documented in a Jan. 8 Burlington Free Press story reporting the profit margin in northwestern Vermont is twice the national average.

"That is astonishing. Tens of millions are being taking out of neighborhoods," Pearson said. Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties continue to see high prices.

"The northwestern Vermont customers pay more for gasoline than at stations as close as Middlebury and Montpelier," Pearson said. "I don't think there is any good reason for it."

Two dozen other House members — mostly from northwestern Vermont — agreed to serve as co-sponsors for the bill. Pearson said Democratic, Republican and Progressive party members are deeply concerned about the possibility of overpricing in Vermont.

If the profit margin were reduced, that would allow Vermonters to spend money on other necessities and further stimulate the economy, Pearson said.

The bill comes as two House committees plan to hold a joint hearing Thursday about gasoline pricing in Vermont.

House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morristown, has said the Commerce and Transportation committees will hold the joint hearing to discuss why the cost of gasoline can be up to 30-40 cents higher in northwestern Vermont compared with other parts of the state.

The hearing is planned for 5-7 p.m. Thursday in Room 11 of the Statehouse.

Wholesalers react

Tim Vallee, president of R.L. Vallee Inc. in St. Albans, was out of the office Tuesday, and Rodolphe "Skip" Vallee, vice president, was unavailable, a company spokeswoman said. The company operates various convenience stores, including about two dozen Maplefields, primarily in Vermont.

Tony Cairns, president of Champlain Oil in South Burlington, was unavailable, but Steve Pietryka, sales manager, said he had learned about the bill earlier Tuesday. He said the company would review it.

Pietryka said he expects Champlain Oil to be represented at the hearing Thursday. The company's outlets include Jiffy Marts in the region.

Bruce Jolley, president of S.B. Collins/Jolley Associates in St. Albans, said he had just returned from vacation and was unaware of the bill but planned to review it.

Jolley said he was planning to skip Thursday's hearing. The company now operates 44 Jolley convenience stores in three states, including about three dozen in Vermont.

Relief?

Burlington has seen some price relief in the past week, according to GasBuddy.Com. The average retail gasoline prices in the city fell 9.5 cents per gallon in the past seven days, averaging $2.52 a gallon, according to a survey of 100 outlets in Burlington.

By comparison, the national average went down 5.8 cents to $2.05 a gallon, GasBuddy said.

Including the recent charges in Burlington, prices are down 97.8 cents per gallon from one year ago and 43.5 cents from one month ago.

Even with the price of gasoline dropping nationwide and in much of Vermont, the northwestern section still lags behind on price relief.

"This bill tries to begin to put the puzzle together," Rep. Pearson said. "Then the attorney general can start to make some judgment."

Pearson said the six-page bill was shipped to the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

Others battling too

A similar bill to monitor gasoline pricing went to the House Transportation Committee last year, but there was not enough time to take action before the session ended. Pearson said he has worked further with Attorney General William Sorrell in the interim.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., also has been trying to wage a fight on pricing. In November 2012, Sanders said he would call the three Vermont wholesalers, but he got nowhere.

S.B. Collins/Jolley Associates, R.L. Vallee Inc. and Champlain Oil Co. Inc. had "no interest in a serious discussion," Sanders spokesman Dan McLean said. He said Tuesday there continues to be no fruitful conversation.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger said this week he remains bothered that city residents are paying a premium price — sometimes 20 cents or more a gallon — for gasoline.

"I certainly do appreciate that gas prices have come down in general, but still to know that Burlingtonians, when they are downtown, are paying more than in surrounding areas — it's a concern," he said.

He said it is important that Sanders, Sorrell and the Legislature continue to monitor the issue.

"I appreciate Speaker Smith calling for these hearings so we can get to the bottom of it, and people can ask their questions," Weinberger said.

The mayor said he still fills up in Burlington, but does have the benefit of walking three blocks to work each day.

"Burlingtonians deserve to be treated like everybody else," Weinberger said.